A special envoy to combat Islamophobia has been appointed by the federal government, months after it named Australia’s first anti-Semitism envoy.
Aftab Malik, a United Nations Alliance of Civilisations “Global Expert” on Muslim affairs, has been named as the government’s Islamophobia envoy.
Mr Malik was born in Britain to Pakistani parents and migrated to Australia in 2012 when he was invited by the Lebanese Muslim Association to work as a scholar in residence to teach and mentor young Muslims in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Most recently, Mr Malik has worked in the NSW premier’s department in community engagement and countering violent extremism.
The government promised to appoint envoys in the wake of social disunity after the October 7 terror attack by Hamas and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza.
Jillian Segal was appointed as anti-Semitism envoy in early July, and the prime minister promised then the government would also name an Islamophobia envoy “shortly”, noting the announcement had been brought forward in order for Ms Segal to attend an international conference on anti-Semitism.
After months passed, the Australian National Imams Council warned the delay would become “farcical” if a person was not found by the end of September.
The announcement comes in just under the deadline set by the Imams council, though Mr Malik’s three-year term will not begin until October 14.
Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Minister Tony Burke said his appointment would bolster the $90 million in initiatives already invested by the government to tackle the ongoing impacts of the Hamas-Israel conflict in Australia.
“Bigotry is always wrong. You should be able to live safely and freely in Australia, regardless of who you are or what you believe,” Mr Burke said in a statement.
As special envoy, the government says Mr Malik will listen to and engage with members of the Muslim community, religious discrimination experts and directly with “all levels” of government on combating Islamophobia.
In a statement, Mr Malik said he also looked forward to engaging with his counterpart, Ms Segal, “to bring our communities together on a common ground”.
“Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are not mutually exclusive: where there is one, you most likely will find the other lurking,” he said.
“I don’t intend to use this role to advocate that one form of hatred is more important than another: both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are unacceptable.
“Each of us can play a part in making sure that violence and hatred have no place in our communities. We can do this by valuing and strengthening the bonds between us and by calling out discrimination and being allies to those who experience it.”
Earlier this month, candidates who said they had been approached by the government in relation to the role warned it could not be seen as “some bureaucratic government role”.
Islamic College of Brisbane CEO Ali Kadri, who was one of those approached, said it would not be effective unless the special envoy engaged with the Muslim community at its grassroots.
The government said Mr Malik was appointed following “extensive” consultation with the community.
